Lata

Lata is a national park in the Palauli district of southern Savai'i, listed among Samoa's national parks^[1]. It protects lowland and foothill rainforest in the catchment of the Lata River, and lies about 25 km from Salelologa.

The Central Savai'i uplands hold the largest diversity and population of birds in Samoa^[2]. The Samoa flying fox, a fruit bat, is among Savai'i's native animals^[3].

Most of Savai'i's uplands above roughly 500 m is indigenous rainforest^[2], part of the Central Savai'i Rainforest, the largest contiguous rainforest in Polynesia^[3].

Savai'i is the largest shield volcano in the South Pacific^[3]. The Lata River rises on the slopes of Mauga Mua at about 1,190 m and drops 11 km to the sea^[4].

Savai'i has an oceanic tropical climate, hot and humid, with the heaviest rain from November to April^[3].

The park lies in Palauli district. The Lata River runs south through the district and reaches the Pacific at the settlement of Puleia^[4].

The park is listed among Samoa's national parks^[1].

The Lata River begins in a broad valley in the Central Savai'i Rainforest, picks up a major tributary at the town of Sili, and passes over the small Mu Pagoa Waterfall just before the sea^[4].

Salelologa is Savai'i's main port, reached by a daily daylight ferry from Upolu of about 90 minutes, and a sealed road circles the island^[3].

Logging on lower slopes, dry-season fires, cyclones and invasive species threaten Savai'i's central rainforest^[2].